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It was a beautiful sunny day in the middle of summer. The sky was wide and blue with barely any cloud in sight and the wind was warm, but not suffocating. Ashe was going back and forth on the monkey bars of this rest area, the sound of cars on the highway never too far behind the small patch of trees that separated it from the guardrail. The ten-year-old boy had just finished eating his picnic lunch – which consisted of one of the sandwiches he had made for everyone and a canned tuna and vegetable salad, with a packet of crisps, a drinkable yogurt and an apple – with his family. He was now carrying out Lonato’s request to ‘let off some steam’ on the playground before they departed again. The atmosphere was filled with summer break cheer, but they had left home late in the morning and decided to eat lunch late as a result. Most other families had already left and the conductors of the few cars remaining were now taking a short nap in the shade near the picnic area. The playground was quieter than it should have been, the monkey bars he had found in the outdoor gym area even more, but that was not to displease him.
Reaching the far end once again, the boy refused to drop to the ground and instead switched directions. That installation had immediately seemed more appealing to him than the metallic jungle gym his younger siblings had ran to. He had been going at it for a little while with no sign of getting bored. It was a little bit tricky though, as the hottest hours of the day had already begun and only half of the construction was under shade. He had gotten sunburnt in the past and the shorts and simple T-shirt he was currently wearing would not be of any help on that front. He was not looking to live through that pain again so he was forced to switch directions much more often than he should have had normally and his arms were beginning to hurt.
He went across a couple more bars before coming to a stop and letting his reflexes take over, initiating a movement he had done hundreds of times before. Hands properly spread out, he gathered his legs to his chest and brought them over him, head upside down, to hook the back of his knees onto the bar. The metal was warm against his skin but nothing too awful, unlike the bars which were sitting in the scorching sun. Had he been on a trapeze like in his circus class, he would have grabbed onto the ropes and hauled himself to a sitting position but he wasn’t, so he just let go and let his arms hang, upside down.
Truth be told, Ashe had a problem to think about.
This was the first time going on a summer break trip with his family since his younger siblings and him had been adopted almost a year ago. This specific situation was obviously new but he had been on holiday trips before, once or twice with his birth parents and one time when he was in foster care. But his brother and sister had not. Or, well, they had, but they were still babies who couldn’t understand much when their parents were alive and they did not seem to clearly remember that one time in foster care either. Needless to say, Aidan and Nora were excited by today’s road trip and Ashe, as the only child big enough to sit in the middle seat – Christophe had recently gotten his driver license and was driving under the watchful eye of their father –, was literally stuck in between them. It had been fun at first, pointing things out the window, singing tunes and playing with them (he always loved playing with them) but Lonato had warned them the trip would be long. Ashe had brought the new book his father had recently bought him with him and he was dying to finally get into it but he couldn’t really do that, stuck in between his talkative younger siblings, his elbows literally wedged into their car seats.
If this was going to be like that for another few hours then he was not looking forward to it. He particularly disliked enclosed spaces and that position between the two large car seats was definitely not helping. He dreamt of being able to sit on one of the side, curl up against the car door and finally open his book.
He sighed and relaxed his body some more. He was lucky to have even been adopted together with his siblings. Lonato and Christophe were so kind to the three of them as if they had always been family – even if they fought a little bit – and his father had even agreed to pay for his circus classes, that he had taken a liking to during a disadvantaged youth program in foster care. This holiday trip was probably also very expensive so he really couldn’t compl-
“Woah!”
Someone had sneaked up behind him and secured an arm around his waist, pulling him off the monkey bars and right out of his thoughts. Almost bent in half over a shoulder, Ashe immediately grasped at the person, trying to pull himself up.
“What a weird looking fruit I picked up off that weird looking tree.”
“Christophe!”
His brother snickered but kept the boy secure as he got to a precarious sitting position on his shoulder, only hissing quietly when he accidentally scratched him trying to get a hold on his shirt. Christophe could withstand his weight, since he regularly went to the gym with his best friend – ‘to better carry them around’, he told him and his siblings – and Ashe was generally smaller than boys his age. But the child still let himself slide down his back to his feet, because safety had always been the number one priority during his circus classes and that situation seemed particularly risky for his brother’s back in particular.
“I thought you were sleeping!”
“I was merely meditating.” His brother answered with an intonation that made him laugh. That was what he always said when he took an unexpected nap. “But you looked like you were deep in thoughts too!”
“I wasn’t sleeping.”
“I know you weren’t. But you didn’t even hear me coming! What’s on your mind, little man?”
Ashe looked up at him. Christophe looked genuinely curious. He was so smart, nothing them younger kids did ever seemed to get past him. But something in the boy told him… He couldn’t bother him with his problem. He should be thankful, first and foremost.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” His brother eventually said. “Dad’s getting Nora and Aidan ready, we’ll be going soon. Do you need to go to the bathroom before we leave or are you all set?”
But Christophe did always help him speak up when he didn’t dare to… Surely he wouldn’t get mad at him for his problem. He never got mad at him. He was always on his side.
Yes, he could…
“Christophe…” He mumbled as they began walking toward the parking, before speaking more clearly. “Do you think I could switch seats in the car?”
“Hm? Why so?”
“Well, it’s… I…”
He immediately got more fidgety. He didn’t want to say his younger siblings were bothering him but… Well, in all honesty, they were. They were too loud and too rowdy and it had already been two hours, he really wanted some peace and quiet. Or as much as he could have, at least, with the five of them packed in a car.
“I… I really want to read my book, but it’s complicated where I am, between Nora and Aidan.”
“They are a little bit noisy, alright… And I guess it’s pretty cramped, stuck between their car seats.” Christophe was quick to sum the issue up, as always. “Listen, I’ll tell you what. If you can beat me at rock paper scissors, I’ll see what I can do.”
“What?”
Ashe looked up at him, confused, but his brother only smiled back. He quickly decided he could take him up on the challenge. If Christophe was willing to help him, then he would win that right fair and square. But they were almost out of the shade, so the boy stepped back somewhere he wouldn’t get scorched. His brother simply flipped the pair of sunglasses he had up on his head back onto his nose. He had used them to drive and to nap, or, wait, meditate.
They had a perfect tie on the first round, both choosing paper. The second round went pretty much identically, with both scissors this time, making Christophe chuckle.
Ashe finally lost the third round, rock against, once more, paper.
He immediately felt a stark disappointment.
“Hey, chin up, cowboy.” Christophe called to him. “To me, it’s always been best of three unless stated otherwise. Ties don’t count.”
That immediately reignited his will, and they went for a fourth round.
He won this one, scissors against, once again, paper for his brother.
Which brought them to one point each, one away from victory.
Ashe really didn’t want to spend the rest of the trip in the middle seat.
“Rock, paper… Scissors!”
The boy tentatively tried paper, since surely his brother wouldn’t want to choose it three times in a row after losing.
His bet proved to be successful, as Christophe presented a balled fist as his rock.
“Oh! I won!!”
“Haha, you sure did!”
Ashe expectantly looked up at him.
“So, can you help me?”
“I’m… Not sure I can do all that much but… Let’s ask dad about it, alright? Maybe if you can beat him at rock paper scissors, he’ll say yes!”
The boy felt a little spark of disappointment again but Christophe had told him he would ‘see what he could do’. That was not a guarantee. Although he had won fair and square!
The thought of challenging his adoptive father felt… Nerve-wracking wasn’t the word. It didn’t even feel right to try.
Lonato was trying to fit the cooler back into the car trunk by the time the two brothers arrived. Nora was holding onto his legs, visibly grumpy, and Aidan had climbed into the car to rummage through the toys they had let fall during the first leg of their journey.
“Here you are, Ashe.” His father welcomed him back. “Are you all set?”
The boy would have answered with a resounding ‘yes’ had this been any other time but he stood awkwardly, unsure of the next move to make. He- He couldn’t challenge Lonato. That was not respectful, and too silly.
“I think he has a question for you.” His brother chimed in and Ashe almost looked at him in horror.
He was definitely not going to do that! But Christophe looked at him with a smile, encouraging him. He…
He could skip that part and just ask him directly. No challenge needed.
He stood a little bit straighter, as tall as he could even with his short height.
“Can I… Not sit in the middle seat anymore? I really want to read my book, I really want to sit in one of the sides seats.”
“No. I won’t be moving Nora’s or Aidan’s car seat. That would take ages and we’ve still got a long way to drive before we arrive.”
Ashe immediately deflated seeing his demand being shot down so readily. His father’s reasoning made sense, his siblings’ seats were bulky and difficult to maneuver… He knew that, he had been stuck between them for two hours already!
He began wondering, against his better judgement, if challenging Lonato to rock paper scissors was such a bad idea in the end.
“But since I’ll be driving for now, you could switch seat with Christophe.”
“Me?!”
The boy’s head shoot up again, looking at his father and brother. Christophe was bigger than him. Could he even fit back there?
“Is it allowed? For him to…” His brother asked, visibly surprised and unsure.
“It should be fine. He’s old enough and just tall enough in my opinion.”
“I was never allowed to go to the front when I was a child!”
“Our car was never that full when you were a child.” Lonato answered with a chuckle.
Christophe just remained silenced in disbelief. Nora began whining, tugging on her father’s leg.
“There, darling.” He immediately knelt down to pick her up. “I’ll let you decide, boys. Christophe…”
Lonato left to go strap Nora in her seat. Ashe tentatively took a look at his brother. He evidently didn’t look too happy about this. None of them had expected their father’s proposition.
“You know, it’s alright…” The boy finally said, although one small part of him was reluctant at that idea. “I don’t think you think in between their car seat anyway…”
But Christophe shook his head.
“Believe me, I’ve already traveled in worse conditions.” He answered but Ashe couldn’t imagine how since his brother had been an only child until a year ago. “It’ll be alright. I can fit just fine.”
“Are… Are you sure?”
He was beginning to feel slightly guilty but Christophe nodded so thoroughly that feeling was washed away.
He always managed to cheer him up.
His brother was so kind, there was only one way they could do this right. Fair and square.
“If I can beat you at rock-paper-scissors, I’ll sit in the front.” Ashe told him, with all the determination he carried.
“You’re on.” His brother answered in the same way. “One round only.”
The boy immediately nodded and they got ready.
He had no idea how to approach that situation, what he should choose to have the best chances at winning. His brother was older and smarter than him. But he refused to just give up.
“Rock, paper…”
In actuality, it all went too fast. He was given no time to muster any kind of plan and ended up just playing on instinct.
“Scissors!”
The results were in. It wasn’t a tie.
Paper against rock.
“Ah, well I guess I’ll be sitting in the back.” Christophe shrugged, quickly admitting defeat. “Good job, little man.”
Astonished by his victory for a second, Ashe couldn’t help but chuckle when his brother ruffled his hair.
The car was comfortably quiet. The compilation of kids’ songs, rock and rap had been briefly replaced with traffic information, then calmer jazz which almost blended in with the engine’s soft roar. Ashe was plunged nose deep into his book. It was a story about a fantasy world filled with witches, knights and dragons, thicker than most books he usually read but the exposition of the setting alone justified the length. Lonato had gotten it for him hoping it would maybe last him longer than books usually did but the boy couldn’t make such promises. When he had told his father that, the man had laughed genuinely, in a way that showed he was not mad at him.
Ashe’s arms, already slightly tired from the rest stop, were beginning to faintly burn from having to hold the book at eye level. He didn’t want to hurt his neck by laying it on his laps and Lonato had forbid him from curling up against the door. Something that was admittedly forbidden in every seat of a car but that he did anyway. It could bring some real harm if he did it in the front though, in case the airbag deployed. It wasn’t planned to happen but his father would rather be safe than sorry. Plus, the boy apparently barely met the requirement for being able to sit in the front, another talk between Lonato and Christophe had revealed as much – having gotten a driver’s license recently apparently made people more aware of rules, his father had said –, so they’d rather not bring undue attention from a police squad onto them if they ever passed by one.
This was the first time Ashe had ever sat in the front of a car. It was… different. The sky was clear blue and endless in the windshield and with the road so open in front of them, it felt like they could truly go anywhere. Yet it was also… cozy, being in this quiet car, able to move and surrounded with his family. Last time he had gone on a summer road trip, when he was in foster care, he had spent hours stuffed in a minibus with fifteen other kids. It had been fun for a while but just like today, he had quickly grown weary of the noise in the confined space between his car mate and the locked door. He wasn’t too fond of noise, especially when stuck in a small space for hours on end.
He wondered if the trips he had done with his parents were like that, back when he was a little kid.
Quiet, cozy, and safe, but with endless possibilities all the same.
He couldn’t manage to remember, but he hoped so.
He decided that they were like that.
“We can’t hear any of them.” Lonato said in a low voice. “Are they all sleeping back there?”
Ashe turned around to look behind him. Nora had fallen asleep basically as soon as they had left the rest stop, lulled by the engine’s sounds on the highway, as curled as she could in her strapped seat. Christophe, just barely fitting between the two car seats with his shoulders over them (he had assured Ashe it was alright), sat partially turned toward Aidan. He had played with him at first, Aidan all too excited to be sitting next to him, until sleep had also conquered the little boy.
His older brother was now asleep as well. His arm was laying over their brother’s car seat and his cheek squished against his own shoulder. His sunglasses had fallen back onto his face.
“They are. Even Christophe!” Ashe answered, trying to keep his voice low as well.
“I guess driving really wore him out. He’s not used to it yet. Although car rides always got him to sleep, when he was a child.”
The boy nodded knowingly, although he knew nothing about that, before adding:
“Well, I don’t think he’s sleeping actually.”
“Really? What is it, then?”
“He’s meditating.”
Lonato let out a laugh, one he didn’t manage to stifle in time.
“He is, hm? He got that from me.” He answered with a smile, one eye leaving the road for just a second to look at his son. “I can’t believe he stole my joke!”
Ashe looked at him in surprise. He had never heard his father say that. He had never even seen him take a nap! With his company and four kids, Lonato was always busy, although taking care of them was an irremovable part of his schedule.
“He says that aaaaaall the time.” The boy finally continued, a smile on his own face.
“Does he, now?”
He nodded with a small hum, his father simply nodding in answer. He took his book up again.
It was once again quiet in the car. The jazz was smooth in the background, the engine’s roar gentle and constant, his siblings’ breathing silent in the back. Lonato was softly humming to the music.
Ashe looked up at the wide open sky in front of them, at his siblings in the rearview mirror and took a quick glance at his father, focused on the road. The weight of the book felt good in his hands, even if still a bit too heavy for his arms.
He was happy and happier still knowing his family around him was too.